Jefferson junior Alina Pham and Kennedy juniors Hans Sonnenberg and Zekarhia Smith are this year’s Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (ExCEL) Award nominees.

Each year, high school juniors are recognized for their involvement in school activities, volunteer efforts and leadership qualities. Nominees are eligible for a statewide award in January.

Pham is an honor roll student and participates in swim & dive, synchronized swimming, robotics, Youth in Government and Model United Nations. Pham volunteers with Feed My Starving Children, as a teacher’s assistant at MN International Chinese School, and is part of community-based Lion Dance Performance.

Sonnenberg is an honor roll and AP Scholar with Distinction student and participates in band, choir and tennis and the school newspaper. Sonnenberg is also a two-time All Conference Choir member. He volunteers running audiovisual technology for Northcross Lutheran Church.

Smith participates in cheerleading and track & field, and has earned academic letters for maintaining a 3.8 GPA. She earned leadership awards from the district’s Office of Educational Equity and Upward Bound, and Kennedy’s Eagle Belonging, Support and Excellence award. She volunteers with her mother every week by providing food and clothing to homeless individuals in Bloomington.